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had not withdrawn from his either. There was something he had to asksomething Oh, yes, the king's messenger. Wearily, he forced his lids open, but it was Gertrude who held the flask so that the coolness flowed softly over his throbbing knee. Later Ian woke with a cry of pain when the chair was lifted, but his leg was held rigid on a board, and the pang was brief. He remembered mumbling something about being full of fleas, and Alinor made some soothing response. The bed was soft and warm as heaven. Ian slept. |
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Morning brought disorientation and a moment of panic. From the exquisite bedcurtains, it was plain that he was in some great lady's bedbut whose? Full wake-fulness resolved the panic into clear memory and a roar of laughter. Alinor pulled the bedcurtains aside. |
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"That is a pleasant sound to start the morning." |
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"And you are a pleasant sight to start the morning." |
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"How gallant. But you laughed before you saw me. Why?" |
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Ian hesitated, then grinned. "Because at first I could not remember whose bed I was in And it is a gentleman's first duty to remember in the morning" |
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Alinor giggled delightedly. It was the first sign she had that Ian was not a pious-mouthed prude. "Wretch! Well, you will not be troubled with that question againnot if you wish to keep intact the wherewithal to make a bed a place for other than sleep." |
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"Did you think I would not be a jealous wife?" she asked provocatively. "I have not a complaisant nature." |
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Somewhat dazed by that miracle of understatement, Ian had only strength enough to murmur, "I would never have guessed if you had not told me." |
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"I thought so." Alinor replied with enormous gravity as she put back the bedclothes to look at Ian's knee. "My disposition is so mild and yielding in general, that I was sure you would need this warning." A sidelong |
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